Cherishing childhood
Drawing: Harper Cowan
I am a public advocate for children's development. I am the co-convenor of the Start Smart Screen Coalition, a multidisciplinary group working to raise awareness of child development and risks of digital screen use in the early years.
Since 2014 have been worked, as a volunteer, to reclaim childhood in the face of the digital tsunami, writing and speaking on the mental health impacts of screens, smartphones and social media, especially. My adult son and I presented to the Australian Senate Inquiry in favour of social media restrictions.
My book Families in the Digital Age(Hybrid Press, published in 2019) explores ways to live well and be emotionally agile in the digital age.
I welcome invitations to run workshops, share ideas and tools in your community and learn from you to help reclaim and cherish childhood.
“For parents who feel defeated by the powerful influence of social media in their children’s lives, this book will sympathise, illuminate, inspire and encourage us to believe there is another, better way to live. ”
“This is one of the most needed and grab-you-by-the-throat, convincing books around today.”
Listen up.
Neuroscientist Mark A. Williams and I met at the Social Media Summit in Sydney in October 2024. I invited Mark to Canberra for a conversation about his book, The Connected Species. Manning Clark House hosted the event. In a wide-ranging Q + A we explore human evolution and screen technology and encourage embracing an offline life to feel truly connected.
Listen up.
In conversation with Feed Play Love podcast host, Shevonne Hunt, here.
Making news
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Making news 〰️
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Article published, November 30 2025 in The Canberra Times and regional newspapers across Australia.
I argue that Artificial intelligence toys invade children's privacy, prey on their trust, and can disrupt their real world relationships and healthy development. Regulatory measures are needed to protect children from the potential harms of AI technology.
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Published in Pearls and Irritations, August 9, 2025
New research from multiple sources shows that frequent and prolonged viewing of screens by babies and toddlers can have the opposite effect. It can disrupt their emotional, physical, and mental development. And it can make it harder for them to build relationships, whether the screens are on televisions, phones, laptops or tablets.
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Oped, February 10 2025
The Australian Government's law setting a Social Media Minimum Age, is a good start. How effective it is will depend on the new rules under the law, the public campaign around the rules and how they are enforced.
[Paywall]
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Opinion, September 16, 2024
[paywall]
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8763759/minimum-age-for-social-media-proposed-in-australia/
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The Parliament of Australia report in which I am quoted with my son, Oliver Martin, providing evidence to the inquiry and additional submission on request.
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Opinion: July 7 2024
[paywall]
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Co-authored with Elizabeth Handsley
Published by Pearls and Irritations, June 6, 2024
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Published in Women’s Agenda, urging communities and governments do more to offer our children safe digital passage through the pandemic and beyond.
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Click the link to watch Reverand Dr Pickard's interview with me on the subject 'Screen Addiction and the Next Generation'.
This is part of the online forum series by Christians for an Ethical Society.
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Article in Canberra City News
Accessible at —
https://citynews.com.au/2020/is-embedded-big-data-stalking-our-school-children/
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Joint article with Carla Wilshire
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Sydney Morning Herald, September 2019
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I quit my phone-dependent job and the family is better off.
Story published by the ABC, Aug 17, 2019
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-17/making-time-to-avoid-screens/11414382
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Published in 2019
[pawall]
https:/www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6549314/is-it-time-to-step-away-from-the-screen/
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Published April 24, 2018
Democracy is being challenged by the rise of social media.
Parliamentarians are trained by their circumstances not to pause for long but develop strategies that create a semblance of having dealt with issues. While they have always been expected to respond to issues promptly, the speed at which issues come up (and arguably the expectations journalists have of them to respond quickly) has intensified.
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Hosted by Essential Media and The Australia Institute, held online in August 2020.